As FightSaga reported earlier today, former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (46-1-1, 32KOs) has opted to postpone his match against Brian Vera, originally scheduled for September 7th.
The Reason: Chavez sustained a cut on his right eyelid when sparring Saturday. (Quotes courtesy of BoxingScene)
Although the cut required only two stitches, the former champion and his team thought it would be best to push back the date.
There’s growing speculation Chavez is using the injury, which doesn’t appear significant, as an excuse for more time to take off weight and get back into fighting shape.
However, Julio Cesar Chavez and his team insist it’s for another reason.
Dr. Jose Antonio Salazar, who examined at stitched the cut, told reporters – “We did not want the same thing to happen to Julio that happened to his father in the past. Why give [our opponent] any advantages.”
What’s he referring to?
Chavez’s father, in 1996, went in to his superfight with Oscar De La Hoya with what was apparently a fairly fresh cut above his left eye.
The cut was opened up by a De La Hoya jab just 60 – 70 seconds into the fight. A bloody mess, Chavez survived until Round 4 until referee Joe Cortez had Julio examined by ringside physician Flip Homansky, who stopped the fight. Afterwards, Chavez admitted he suffered a minor cut over his left eye five days before the fight, but his camp didn’t tell anyone because he didn’t want to postpone the fight.
However, Marc Ratner, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, said Chavez underwent a pre-fight examination and the cut had gone undetected.
Perhaps it went undetected because it wasn’t a significant laceration at the time?
It’s believed the cut, however minor, was still fresh and left Chavez vulnerable as the slice got far worse upon the impact of a De La Hoya jab.
Moments after the cut was opened, HBO Commentator George Foreman said, “That cut was opened in training. You can believe that… There was a big cover-up.”
Now, Team Chavez (Jr) insist they don’t want to make the same mistake as Julio Sr.
Do you agree it was the right decision?
Below is footage of Round 1 of De La Hoya vs Chavez I. As you’ll see, Chavez gets cut early…. And it is nasty.
